collision courseThings will go wrong—the current state of transportation infrastructure almost guarantees it. But knowing that, and working with partners, can mitigate much of the risk.By Richard H. Sharpe and John Deasy

reversal of fortuneAfter a quarter century of calling the shots with truckers, logistics pros are having to adjust to a very different reality. Here's how they're coping.By Robert L. Shaunnessey

it's all in the planningWhile other retailers sweated out last fall's port logjam, Limited Brands sailed through largely unscathed. The secret? Detailed contingency planning with plenty of options.By Paul Marshall

who you gonna call?When the RFID mandate comes down, you'll need a partner ... or two or three. But how do you find those partners?By John R. Johnson

raising the roofIf you can't expand outward, you can always try up. How one company eased its warehouse space crunch.By David Maloney

Big Picture: the uncertainty principleShippers, carriers, third parties and researchers spend enormous amounts of time and energy attempting to develop reliable distribution networks, yet the best-laid plans are subject to forces and events beyond the control of even the most sophisticated systems.By Peter Bradley

Fastlane: oink, oink?Previous transportation bills have contained their share of "pork," to be sure. But the recent bill, larded with allocations for 6,376 such "special interest projects," set an all-time record.By Clifford F. Lynch

Labor Pool: know your own strengths!As you contemplate your next career move, there's nothing more valuable than a clear-eyed assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.By Donald Jacobson and Shelley Safian

Outbound: take the long viewDid the price at the gas pump immediately following Hurricane Katrina get your attention? Good. Now here's some advice: Stay focused on the fuel.By Mitch Mac Donald

going to extremesWhen you're in a race against time, it's nice to have someone else to coordinate things behind the scenes.

the distinguished gentleman from EnglandSupply chain professionals who travel to San Diego for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' Annual Conference this month will be able to congratulate Dr.

bike tracksThere are bracelets worn to support a cause&#8212;the Livestrong bracelets popularized by Lance Armstrong, for example&#8212;and there are bracelets that make a fashion statement.

homeward boundWith luck, two endangered Florida manatees will answer the call of the wild sometime this winter or next.

Newsworthy

industry rushes to aid Katrina's victimsThe federal government came under heavy fire for what was seen as a slow response to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster to occur on U.

RFID on the fast trackIt appears that the transition to Gen 2 RFID technology may happen faster than originally predicted.

Continuing Education

we're talkin' world classThe Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, in conjunction with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, once again will offer its "World Class Warehousing and Material Handling" course early next month.

point, click and learnThe Material Handling Institute continues to add to its series of online courses, which are available through the Material Handling Industry of America's Web site (<a href="http://www.

you can start at the endThe University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education will offer a pair of supply chain courses back to back next month.

3PL offers supply chain seminarsThird-party logistics service provider Exel plans to bring together customers, suppliers and other supply chain participants in a series of seminars to explore improvements in financial performance through supply chain management practices.